His Love of Children. 28 



j 



writer's memory as a good illustration of his 

 universal charity. He discovered in the 

 Chelsea Workhouse an aged man, who had 

 in his youth been trainer to some nobleman, 

 but now, blind and lame, he seemed friendless 

 and forgotten. For many months " The 

 Druid " went after morning service every 

 Sunday, and with his own hand led the old 

 man back to his house in Kensington Square. 

 There his humble friend got a plentiful meal 

 of roast beef and plum pudding, and after a 

 few hours of cheerful talk, was led back, 

 strengthened and refreshed for the desagrd- 

 ment of another week of Union fare. 



The house in Kensington Square had 

 behind it a long old-fashioned orarden, in 

 which stood a mulberry tree and several pear 

 trees, under the shadow of which he loved to 

 sit in his rare moments of leisure. Beyond 

 the garden was a large yard with fowl houses, 

 kennels, and other minor sheds wherein "The 

 Druid " housed all the family pets. For years 

 he kept a record of every Ggg laid ; nor, when 

 in London, was anyone permitted to go near 

 the nests but himself. When increasing ill- 

 ness, inevitably resulting in decreasing in- 



